Campaign for Mizo bypoll ends

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Aizawl, Feb. 21: Campaigning for the February 23 Chalfilh bypoll came to a close at 7pm today with more than 11 student unions making acrimonious allegations against each other to the election watchdog.

A Congress press release issued today said more than 60 members of the Mizo National Front (MNF) had deserted their party to join them while the MNF accused the ruling party of luring “poor people” with false assurances.

An MNF press release said the ruling party was out “buying” votes in exchange for subsidies, feasts and booze.

A Congress unit president in Khawruhlian constituency was arrested by excise sleuths for possessing an unspecified amount of IMFL.

The MNF alleged that while other youngsters caught with a peg of alcohol were put in the lock-up, this man was released the same night, an act that could not have been done without the green signal from the excise minister.

Talks fail

The talks between the Mizoram government and the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum scheduled today could not beheld, as forum leaders did not turn up. The next date for the meeting has not been fixed.

Sources said the forum’s president, A. Sawibung, told several media outlets that they could not reach the capital from Tripura as no vehicles were available owing to the all-India strike call.

He also said the government had not made the necessary arrangements for their travel and stay in the state capital. Mizoram joint home secretary Lalbiakzama said the government had made arrangements for them, including booking rooms at Sainik guesthouse.

He hoped that a new date would soon be fixed for the talks as the issue had been pending for a long time and the genuine citizens of the state were suffering.